She said Ratu Jone spent a significant part of his career (12 years) as the longest serving Governor of Reserve Bank of Fiji before he joined politics.

He also held the position of permanent secretary for Finance.

Ratu Jone who was a chief in his own right was Fiji’s Minister for Finance, a position he held starting from 2000 to 2006.

He also represented the South West Urban Fijian Communal constituencies in the House of Representatives, to which he was elected as a candidate of the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) party in 2001.

He retained his seat in the general election of 2006 and was part of the government that was deposed in the military coup of December 5, 2006.

A memorial service for the late Ratu Jone will be held on Tuesday, September 18 at 10am at the Centenary church in Suva.